Foreign workers or foreign students graduating from a Canadian university can now apply to become Permanent Residents using a new application called the Canada Experience Class (CEC). There are various requirements for qualifying under this category:
The applicant must be either:
A temporary foreign worker that has at least two years of full-time work experience in Canada.
A foreign student graduating from a Canadian post-secondary school, with at least one year of full-time work experience in Canada.
NOTE: For both the above categories, the applicant is not required to be employed at the time the application is made. However, if the remaining requirements are met, the applicant can make a CEC application for only up to one year after leaving their Canadian employment.
The applicant must have acquired the experience using proper documentation, such as work or study permit.
The applicant must have a command of either English or French. The results of an independent language test, created by an agency designated by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, must be included with the application.
The applicant must be a legal temporary resident of Canada at the time the application is made.
A pass/fail system is used to assess the applications, using the criteria listed above. This means that there is no point system or discretion by the visa officer to grant the visa. It simply depends on the level of education and experience, along with a language requirement.
If considering making a CEC application to become a Permanent Resident of Canada and you wish to benefit from the assistance of a lawyer during this process, feel free to Contact Us for further information.
